Smoking pipe



March 9, 1965 F. H. BOWERS 3,172,413

SMOKING PIPE Filed Aug. 10. 1964 III/111,537

United States Patent 3,172,413 SMOKING FEE Fredrick H. Bowers, 610 W. Willard St.,

. Kalamazoo, Mich. Filed Aug. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 388,564 1 Claim. (Cl. 131-184) This invention relates to improvements in smoking pipes, more particularly to the so-called corncob pipe, having for an object to provide such pipe so constructed that its bowl bottom may be removed for cleaning or replacement as required, and additionally, the cake or carbon coated cylindrical inner side walls of the bowl cut or scraped to remove the same therefrom, whereby to better its'smoking enjoyment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combining pipe bowl cake removing cutter or scraper and bowl bottom with knob-like means for cappingly receivbeing conveniently and quickly installed in a pipe bowl with the bowl bottom serving a beneficial dual utility, first, as a removable bottom for the bowl, and second, as a mounting for the bowl side wall cake or carbon coating remover whereby it may be readily rotated and assured of cutting or scraping engagement therewith to effect a cleaning and clearing operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide the bowl bottom with knob-like means for capingly receiving the same, said means being rotatable thereover or thereon and fixedly connected to the cake or carbon coating remover whereby to facilitate its operative rotation in cutting or scraping engagement with the bowl inner side walls; also, to shield the hand or fingers of a user from direct contact with the bottom, hence preventing their burning or soiling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bowl bottom cap and/or receiver as stated above, which in addition to serving as an effective motion transmitter and heat shield, will afford an external surface area capable of advantageously receiving or having advertising matter or other intelligence inscribed or otherwise presented thereon.

It is well known and appreciated by pipe smokers that the corncob type of smoking pipe is popular with and attractive to many, not only because of its possible economics, but that its smoking qualities are believed to be such as will provide greater enjoyment and satisfaction to the smoker, ostensible or other. However, the duration of satisfactory smoking of such a pipe is relatively brief, this because its bowl bottom is formed by or of a portion of the pith-like comparatively soft and absorbent core of the cob, which is not removed during the hollowing or reaming thereof. As a result, this core portion constructed bowl bottom becomes moisture laden and saturated with smoking use of the pipe, sometimes porous, to such an extent as to prevent satisfactory smoking draw; in any event, saturated to an extent that it permits the by-passing of undesirable fluid into the pipe stern and hence, into the mouth of the smoker.

Conversely, a pipe constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention eliminates the above-stated disadvantages in that its bowl bottom is made of briar, or other suitable Wood or material which will resist saturation by those fluids incident to its smoking usage; will not become porous and so, will improve smoking draw; in general, will remain usage satisfying for prolonged periods of time. Moreover, because the bowl bottom is removable, it can be conveniently and readily cleaned, or if required, replaced. Furthermore, being durable and usage or wear resistant it affords an effective mounting or support for the rotatable cutter or scraper, assuring positive contact of its blades with the cake or carbon 3,172,413 Patented Mar. 9, 1965 coated cylindrical walls of a pipe bowl and the removal thereof. 3

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a corncob type of smoking pipe equipped with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the pipe bowl and a portion of its stem, illustrating the removable bowl bottom, the cutter or scraper and its mounting on the bowl bottom, and the bowl bottom receiving and capping member connected to said blades;

FIGURE 3 is a detail of the combined cutter'or scraper, bowl bottom and capping member unitary assembly, a portion of the cutter and the bottom of the capping member being shown in section, and,

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2, looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

Referring in detail to the drawings, it will be noted that Whereas I have shown the invention adapted to the bowl of a corncob type of pipe thereof, it is not limited to such adaptation. The pipe bowl is indicated by the numeral 1, being usually formed by reaming or otherwise removing the pith-like core from the cob to provide cylindrical side walls, and the stem and bit by the numeral 2.

The bowl is open at both ends. Its lower end is closed by a bottom constituting circularly shaped plug 3 having a concentrically located opening 4 therethrough and a rabbeted or shouldered peripheral portion, as at 5. The upper or normally inner portion of the plug is of a diameter such as will effect its binding or frictional telescopic engagement or fit in said lower end in the manner shown in FIGURE 2. The inner and outer (upper and lower) sides of the plug are planar.

The cake or carbon coating cutter 6 is comprised of a single strip of fiat high grade and comparatively stiff steel stock of substantially U-shaped form (see FIG- URE 3) Whose sides or blade portions diverge from its basal portion and are of lengths only slightly less than the depth of the pipe bowl. If desired, they may be edge sharpened. The width of its basal portion approximates the diameter of the inner portion of the plug 3. It is diametrically positioned in parallel relation on and to the planar inner side of the plug. Thus, the cutter blades springingly, and with sufiicient pressure, will contact, conform and coact with the pipe bowl carbon coated inner side walls.

A cap-like knob '7, made of metal or other suitable material, is provided to and receives the lower and outer portion of the plug 3, its inside diameter being such that it snugly engages thereover, and its outside diameter such as to be substantially parallel to the pipe bowl outer wall surfaces and contiguous therewith. If desired, the marginal portion of the cap may be externally knurled or similarly treated for an obvious purpose.

As hereinbefore stated, the wooden bottom constituting plug 3, being interposed between the pipe bowl and cap-like knob 7, affords a desirable and effective insulation, i.e., when the pipe is in use, preventing heating of said knob to a degree capable of burning the users fingers, or at least being uncomfortable as and when contactin g the same.

The plug may be made of various materials, though it is preferably produced from a hard, and to an extent, heat-resistant wood rather than metal-obviously a heat conductor.

To interconnect the cutter 6, plug 3 and knob 7 in unitary assembled relation, a stub-shaft 8 having an integral diameter reduced finger 8' on one (outer) end and an integral rectangularly shaped finger 8a on its other (inner) end is rotatively engaged in and through the opening 4 in the plug. The finger 8 is concentrically vious manner.

it engaged in and through the cap and upset flush with its outer surface for permanent connection, while thefinger 8a is engaged medially through the cutter basal portion. Because the cap and the cutter basal portion are positioned on the adjacent shouldered ends of the .stubshaft, it will be seen that the shaft will be freely rotatable with relation to the plug. Hence, the binding or frictional ,non-rotative engagement or fit of the plug in the pipe bowl lower end will not be disturbed or affected. When desired, the unitary assembly of the aforesaid components may be wholly and readily removed from the bowl.

In usage of my improved pipe, its bowl is filledand packed, this without interference from or with the cutter or scraper 6. With completion of the smoke, the pipe bowl may be cleared of residual ashes by engaging the knurled margin of the knob 7, rotating it and causing the cutter to be rotated within the pipe bowl, thereby loosening and removing the residue, whereupon it may be dumped. Should there be an excessive accumulation of cake or carbon on the bowl side walls,

this will be etfectively separated therefrom as and when the cutter is rotated, though it is preferable that the cutter blades shall be positioned with relation to the bowl inner side walls so as to modulate their cutting .or scraping action to an extent which will leave a certain and desirable amount of cake thereon.

At times, it may become desirable to clean the pipe bowl bottom constituting plug 3 and cutter 6. In such event the cap 7 is engaged firmly and pulled outwardly, thereby breaking the binding and frictional contact between the plug and pipe bowl side walls, allowing their unitary removal; replacement being effected in an ob- By the same token, it will be understood that replacement of the unitary assembly or parts thereof .may be effected when required.

I claim:

A smoking pipe, comprising:

(a) a bowl having anopen bottom;

(12) a bottom member for the bowl consisting of a body of a shape mating with that of the open bot tom of the bowl, the periphery of which is annularly shouldered, providing portions of greater and lesser diameters with the lesser diameter portion thereof frictionally and "non-rotatively engaged in said open bottom and the greater diameter portion being outwardly of said open bottom in abutting engagement therewith;

(c) a cap-like knob over and rotatable with relation to the greater diameter portion of the body and having its sides spaced below the bowl bottom;

(d) a shaft endwise fixedly mounted on and substantially centrally of said knob extended through said body into the bowl and rotatable in the body; and

(e) a cutter fixedly mounted on the extended end of the shaft within the bowl and contacting its inner sidewalls and spaced from the inner side of said body. 7

References Cited by the Examiner- UNITED STATES PATENTS Marshall" 131-184 References Cited'by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 419,348 1/ Pfortner. 1,104,654 7/ 14 Gilliland; 1,280,039 9/ 18 Irving. 1,742,480 1/ 30 Mathison.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

JOSE-PH S. REICI- I, Examiner. 

